The Coppersmiths 1900

Curator: Looking at this piece, I'm immediately struck by its stark realism. The rough, unfinished quality of the etching actually amplifies the grit and labor depicted. It’s almost as though you can hear the clang of metal on metal! What about you? Editor: It's interesting you say that, I am not surprised. McLaughlan has really offered us here the piece known as "The Coppersmiths". Dating back to 1900, it captures, in etching on paper, what appears to be a rather common scene from that period. It feels deeply entrenched in its time, and reminds me to look to labor's historical footprint and representation. I imagine daily realities for those individuals who weren't typically given a spotlight during this era. Curator: Right, the focus on labor, particularly the working class, that feels incredibly contemporary. This slice of life reveals what daily routines were like in the workplace, while maybe allowing middle and upper-class onlookers a look inside spaces where they don't have access to. The dark doorway really pulls you into their space. Editor: Absolutely, and I am very moved by how it frames them. The space is really interesting—the deep shadows in the workshop juxtapose with the brighter area where the two coppersmiths are actively working. The details within the stone archway add dimension to the picture while highlighting the environment. These choices prompt me to think about the power dynamics in depicting such laborers. Is it simply a depiction, or is there an element of social commentary? McLaughlan chooses a particular moment. Why this one? Curator: I think that ambiguity is part of what makes it so compelling. And I find the visual elements more impressive than its potential as political criticism. The artist isn’t necessarily romanticizing this existence, but depicting a factual, somewhat romantic vision of this hard way of life. The skill and care devoted to expressing such a subject… it has so much tension and is so impressive. It’s funny that such quiet images, so stark, might feel like something whispered that ends up as truth. Editor: I do find the fact McLaughlan took on the visual narrative of these individuals speaks to shifting societal consciousness. To give them visibility on a large scale is a commentary, in itself. Ultimately, regardless of the McLaughlan’s motivations, the impact it has and the questions it poses decades later makes the print incredibly significant.